Forest Health Conditions in Ontario, 2011 Forest Health Conditions in Ontario, 2011 Edited by: T.A. Scarr1, K.L. Ryall2, and P. Hodge3 1 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Forests Branch, Forest Health & Silviculture Section, Sault Ste. Marie, ON 2 Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON 3 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Science and Information Branch, Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment Section, Sault Ste. Marie, ON © 2012, Queen’s Printer for Ontario For more information on forest health in Ontario visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources website: www.ontario.ca/foresthealth You can also visit the Canadian Forest Service website: www.glfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca Telephone inquiries can be directed to the Natural Resources Information Centre: English/Français: 1-800-667-1940 Email: [email protected] 52095 ISSN 1913-6164 (print) ISBN 978-1-4435-8489-0 (2011 ed., print) ISSN 1913-617X (online) ISBN 978-1-4435-8490-6 (2011 ed., pdf) Front Cover Photos: Circular photos top to bottom – Diplodia tip blight (W. Byman), Snow damage (S. Young), Emerald ash borer galleries (P.Hodge), Spruce budworm (W. Byman), Forestry workshop in Algonquin Park (P.Hodge). Background: Severe defoliation caused by forest tent caterpillar in Bancroft District (P. Hodge). Banner: Hardwood forest in autumn (P.Hodge). Forest Health Conditions in Ontario, 2011 Dedication We are proud to dedicate this report to the memory of our friend, colleague, and mentor, Dr. Peter de Groot, 1954-2010. Peter was a long-time supporter of forest health, forest entomology, and forest management in Ontario and Canada. A world class research scientist, Peter made significant contributions to forest entomology. This included over 70 research papers, seven books, 12 book chapters, several publications from conferences and workshops, and many government reports and publications. As an adjunct professor at University of Toronto and Lakehead University, Peter provided guidance and valuable direction to Masters and Ph.D. students. Peter was a regular presenter at Ontario’s Annual Forest Health Review, imparting his scientific knowledge and expertise, and sharing his latest research results. He also provided invaluable advice to the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) in the design and implementation of the forest health monitoring program. Over the last few years Peter helped mediate the transition from a CFS-led field program to an OMNR-led field program. After starting his career with the OMNR as a field technician in 1974, Peter graduated with his Forest Technician Diploma from Sault College in 1975. He was hired that same year as a research technician by the CFS. He went on to earn his Honours B.Sc. in Forestry from Lakehead University in 1981 and then his Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University in 1991. Eventually rising to the level of senior scientist, Peter was happiest when his boots were dirty. Adept in the lab or writing in his office, it was field work that invigorated him. He taught us the importance of observing the biological system in which we are working. In this way we could better design our research and understand the results. Peter’s strength was in growing people. He was a mentor to everyone from summer students to friends, peers, and senior managers. His scientific excellence, integrity, attention to detail, and humour were among his many assets that earned him our respect, admiration, and friendship. Peter is also remembered for his devotion to his family: his loving wife Elizabeth (Liz) Deakin-de Groot, children Cathleen and Jonathan, and grandchildren Adalia, Deiderich, and Quinn. We thank them for letting us share in Peter’s life. Forest Health Conditions in Ontario, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS Forest Health Conditions in Ontario, 2011 ........................................................................................... iii Dedication ......................................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................xi Section 1 – Forest Health Monitoring in Ontario, 2011 PROGRAM OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................1 Forest Health Monitoring ...................................................................................................................2 2011 Forest Health Conditions Report ...........................................................................................2 2011 SUMMARY OF EVENTS......................................................................................................................5 Weather patterns ..................................................................................................................................5 Section 2 – Major Forest Disturbances FOREST INSECTS iv Spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) .............................................................11 Jack pine budworm, Choristoneura pinus pinus Free. ...............................................................15 Jack Pine Forest Health Plots .........................................................................................................19 Forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hbn. ............................................................................21 FOREST DISEASES Brown spot needle blight, Mycosphaerella dearnessii M.E. Barr (Anamorph: Lecanosticta acicola (Thümen) H. Sydow) ...............................................................................25 FOREST ABIOTIC EVENTS Blowdown .............................................................................................................................................27 Section 3 – Invasive Species in Ontario’s Forests FOREST INSECTS Pine false webworm, Acantholyda erythrocephala (L.) ...........................................................33 Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire ......................................................................35 Larch casebearer, Coleophora laricella (Hbn.) ............................................................................39 Birch casebearer, Coleophora serratella (L.) ...............................................................................41 Beech scale, Cryptococcus fagisuga Linding. .............................................................................41 Introduced pine sawfly,Diprion similis (Htg.) .............................................................................42 Satin moth, Leucoma salicis (L.) .....................................................................................................43 Gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) ................................................................................................43 European pine sawfly,Neodiprion sertifer (Geoff.)...................................................................45 European fruit lecanium, Parthenolecanium corni (Bouche) .................................................46 Imported willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora (Laich.) .................................................46 Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newm. ...................................................................................47 Pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.) ....................................................................................48 FOREST DISEASES White pine blister rust, Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. ...........................................................50 Dogwood anthracnose, Discula destructiva Redlin ...................................................................51 Forest Health Conditions in Ontario, 2011 Beech bark disease, Neonectria faginata (M.L. Lohman, A.M.J. Watson & Ayers) Castl. & Rossman ............................................................................................................................51 Dutch elm disease, Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Brasier ...................................................................53 Section 4 – Northwest Region FOREST INSECTS Bronze birch borer, Agrilus anxius Gory .....................................................................................55 Fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.) ............................................................................56 Birch skeletonizer, Bucculatrix canadensisella (Cham.) .........................................................56 Eastern larch beetle, Dendroctonus simplex (LeC.) ..................................................................57 Birch-aspen leafroller, Epinotia solandriana (L.) .......................................................................58 Striped alder sawfly, Hemichroacrocea (Geoff.) .......................................................................58 Fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) ...................................................................................58 Spiny elm caterpillar, Nymphalis antiopa (L.) ............................................................................59 Aspen leafblotch miner, Phyllonorycter apparella (Free.) .......................................................59